Advanced Palaeontology

This advanced palaeontology course discusses the field's various specialities and overlapping disciplines. You learn about its historical milestones and ethical considerations, such as provenance.

You'll follow guidance on the fossilisation process and the importance of isotopic analysis. This advanced palaeontology course also shares excavation methods for fossils of varying sizes. You’ll learn analytical techniques and key considerations in preparing, curating, and conserving fossils.

Discover the major characteristics of ancient marine reptiles and their modern descendants. Study theropods and birds, including theories of evolution and flight. Delve into vertebrate and invertebrate palaeontology. Learn about vertebrate organisms and families, tetrapods, and the evolutionary advantage of jaws. Discover the defining characteristics of synapsids and sauropsids, and their subgroups.

As you study palaeontology, you'll also learn about palaeoclimatology. We'll discuss major climate periods and mass extinction events.

This advanced palaeontology course concludes by examining molecular phylogenetics's role in palaeontology. From sources of DNA to DNA barcoding, you'll learn how researchers determine genetic links between specimens.

By studying this course, you will learn about:

• Palaeontology specialisms, historical milestones, and ethics
• Isotopic analysis and palaeobiology
• Fossil collection and curation
• Ancient marine reptiles and their modern descendants
• Therapods, birds, and the process of evolution
• Invertebrate and vertebrate palaeontology
• Jawed and jawless organisms
• Synapsids and sauropsids
• Palaeoclimatology, ice ages, and climate change
• Molecular phylogenetics, phylogenetic trees, and the relationships between species

This advanced palaeontology course will expand your understanding of the basic concepts. It's perfect for those with existing knowledge in this field looking to dig deeper into the practice and study of palaeontology. Completing this course will prepare you for formal education or to go on to study further techniques.